Iowa State up to No. 6 in women's AP Top 25; Gamecocks No. 1

Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment.

Iowa State has reached its best ranking in 20 years in The Associated Press women's basketball poll while South Carolina remains the unanimous choice at No. 1.

Iowa State (21-3) moved up three spots to sixth on Monday — its highest mark since the 2002 season — and has a huge week ahead with games against No. 14 Texas and No. 15 Oklahoma. The Cyclones then play No. 7 Baylor next Monday.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Longtime Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly couldn't remember the last time his team had such an important stretch.

"It's a really big week going to Texas where we haven’t played them very well lately and Oklahoma is playing at a very high level," Fennelly said. "It's one of those weeks you hope to have in February."

The Gamecocks received all 30 votes from a national media panel after beating Kentucky and Georgia on the road last week. Stanford, Louisville, N.C. State and Indiana rounded out the top five.

The Cyclones, who were sixth on Jan. 7, 2002, hold a one-game lead over Oklahoma and Baylor in the Big 12 standings. Iowa State has only won the conference's regular season crown once, in 2000.

Iowa State guard Emily Ryan (11) shoots over Kansas State center Ayoka Lee (50) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 70-55. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

This is only the second time in the program’s history that the Cyclones have reached 20 wins in their first 23 games, joining the 200-01 team. Iowa State was missing star Ashley Joens, who averages 19.9 points and 9.3 rebounds, when it lost to Texas because